• Twas the night before Christmas and all through the place
• Dad’s annoyance was growing. He had a red face.
• The stockings were hung in the corner by string
• One wonders why tradition would make such a thing?
• The children were nestled all snug in their beds
• While electronic visions danced in their heads
• With mom in her jammies and me sans the cap
• Were sitting at table with presents to wrap
• When out on the lawn there arose drunken noise
• I jumped up swearing to go yell at those boys
• Away to the window I was not apt to creep
• Threw it open and screamed “We are trying to sleep!”
• The moon on the breast of the new fallen snow
• Showed me a drunken reveler, who respect did not show
• When, what to my wondering eyes should appear
• A one-fingered salute and a man baring his rear
• With a little old driver whose head moved so quick
• I knew in a moment he was going to be sick
• More rapid than eagles I turned from the scene
• But knocked over a display, so I now had to clean
• Now Dasher, now Dancer, now Prancer, and Cupid
• I picked up them all. But I felt oh so stupid
• To the top of the shelf I replaced them and spoke
• “Hey Honey, I think Rudolph is finally broke.”
• As dry leaves before a wild hurricane fly
• My wife turned and stood with a glare in her eye
• So up to full ire she was shaking her fist
• See Rudolf was favorite the top of the list
• And then in a twinkling my wife hit the roof
• “You broke off two legs, his head and a hoof!”
• As I drew in my hand and adjusted my view
• “I think I can fix it. All I need is hot glue.”
• He was covered in fur, it was going to be tough
• But I tinkered and worked till I hoped was enough
• A bundle of toys couldn’t have made her smile bigger
• I had done a good job so like a school girl she sniggered
• Her eyes, how they twinkled, her smile how glowing
• I gave her a hug; our true love was showing.
• My droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow
• Then I remembered that guy out in the snow.
• The stump of a pipe I grabbed, just for show
• Then I went out to see the old man in the snow
• He had a broad face and a beard colored toffee
• He was barely conscious, so I got him some coffee
• He was chubby and wobbled as he sipped on his drink
• Then he smiled, said thanks, and I started to think
• A wink of his eye and a raise of his cup
• Soon gave me to know he was sobering up
• He spoke not a word but he belched a few times
• Then he went for his keys, which I knew was a crime
• And laying a finger my kindness had shown
• I sat in his seat and then drove him home
• We sprang to his door, to his wife gave a smile
• She thanked me so much. He’d been out quite a while
• But I heard him exclaim as he went in his place
• “Happy Christmas to all” Then he fell on his face
• His wife thanked me again, and mine drove me home
• She said there should be a red hat on my dome
• She smiled at me and her words gave me pause
• She said, “Sometimes everyone needs Santa Claus.”
• So, this is my card, From me to you
• Happy Christmas To All, From Ohh!’s Sideways View

A sideways view from the other side. Dedicated to my friend Dawne R. Let me know whet you think at Ohhssidewaysview@gmail.com